Governance and External Visitors
Support, challenge and advice
The school is an independent school which is part of the National Autistic Society charity. As such the school is overseen by the charity’s Board of Trustees.
The school has Deb Carr, Link EQD Member and a Safeguarding Board Member.
The school is also supported by Russell Dyke who has an Independent role as Listener/Advocate for our pupils. He is a person they can talk to if they are concerned or worried about anything. Russell also volunteers as a driver for the school to take pupils out on Community Based Education (CBE) visits.
Additionally, Radlett Lodge benefits from the support and challenge from The National Autistic Societies Internal Head of School Improvement and Operations (UK).
The school works closely with other National Autistic Society schools and a number of schools when pupils are transitioning from setting to setting thereby benefitting from joint working and shared good practice.
The Lodge, which is the on-site residential provision is also inspected regularly by an Appointed Visitor who completes comprehensive reports on all aspects of the residential provision in relation to the National Minimum Standards.
Governors
Radlett Lodge School has a Local Governing Body (LGB) for local governance. The LGB comprises of representatives from the local and wider community area and they have a range of experise. The LGB includes Staff Governors and a Lodge Governor. The LGB has a key role in setting the strategic direction of a school, ensuring the accountability of staff, and thinking critically about the safeguarding of all members of the school / lodge.
NAS LGBs provide local governance. Their functions are to:
- support the Principal and Senior Leadership Team in the delivery of the school’s mission and vision
- Provide constructive criticism
- Monitor the wellbeing and safety of the pupils
- Monitor the educational achievement of pupils
- Represent the school to the local community, including the business community
- Support the development of the school as and when opportunities arise.
Deb Carr, Chair of the LGB provides feedback to the EQD and National Autistic Society board, via the link trustees who chair them. For further information, see our Scheme of delegation.
Our Governors are:
- Deb Carr (LGB Chair) - Link EQD Member: Safeguarding Head and Residential Head
- Merja Paakkonen - Co-opted: Safeguarding - SCR and Safer Recruitment
- Enenye Gez - Co-opted: Parent/Carer Engagement
- Kerry Sternstein - Co-opted: Curriculum
- Ellie Freeman - Co-opted: Residential
- Gemma Fuller - Co-opted: Pupil and Staff Wellbeing
- Lee Evangelista - Co-opted: Finance Head
- Geraldine Mendonça – Principal